Plans for a clock tower may strike out

Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

Hendersonville's Main Street Design subcommittee headed back to the drawing board Tuesday to discuss options for a downtown intersection after City Council members chose to proceed with a clock tower instead of a gateway sculpture.

But the timepiece will either have to be scaled down to fit in the intersection or made large enough for people to walk through it, according to Luther Smith and Associates. The design firm is working with local officials to plan and implement the last phase of the city's improvements to Main Street.

Main Street Director Lew Holloway said that Bruce White, who was initially appointed to design a gateway sculpture at the corner, backed out after the city asked him to rework his plans.

Moving forward, Holloway told the council Thursday night they could either opt to complete the streetscape improvements without public art, start over seeking a new artist, or revisit the work of other semi-finalists.

Looking at drafts for streetscape proposals, the council opted for a fourth choice, agreeing with Mayor Barbara Volk's suggestion of a clock tower.

Working off an example of a 12-foot-square clock tower (nearly 30 feet tall) emailed to city staff, Luther Smith said the piece would have to be close to 6 feet wide to be “in scale with the intersection.” If the tower is made larger to accommodate foot traffic (about 20 feet wide), its cost may be a factor, he added.

“If council wants to go with that significant a structure, as designers, our feeling is this intersection is the wrong place,” Smith said. “An element of that sort needs to be in a major social space where it becomes an accent for all of Main Street.”

Committee member Peter Goldsmith asked if the larger clock tower would overshadow the fountain set to be constructed on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street. He added that their initial concept for a piece at that intersection was to bring people into town.

Smith agreed that whatever goes at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street “needs to catch your attention as you cross King.”

Goldsmith proposed the intersection could host “revolving pieces of public art” that can come to cities as traveling shows.

Smith added that once Main Street improvements are complete, they will have a total of eight spaces that could host revolving art, or “a lot of different options.” He added that they feel the improvements to Main Street the city is currently undertaking will encourage more redevelopment.

At Thursday's meeting, council member settled on plans for brick walls with sign elements on the southwest and northwest corners. Smith said the walls are set to be about 25-30 feet in length featuring a possibly backlit downtown “H” logo about three-and-a-half to four feet in diameter.

<p>Hendersonville's Main Street Design subcommittee headed back to the drawing board Tuesday to discuss options for a downtown intersection after City Council members chose to proceed with a clock tower instead of a gateway sculpture.</p><p>But the timepiece will either have to be scaled down to fit in the intersection or made large enough for people to walk through it, according to Luther Smith and Associates. The design firm is working with local officials to plan and implement the last phase of the city's improvements to Main Street.</p><p>Main Street Director Lew Holloway said that Bruce White, who was initially appointed to design a gateway sculpture at the corner, backed out after the city asked him to rework his plans.</p><p>Moving forward, Holloway told the council Thursday night they could either opt to complete the streetscape improvements without public art, start over seeking a new artist, or revisit the work of other semi-finalists. </p><p>Looking at drafts for streetscape proposals, the council opted for a fourth choice, agreeing with Mayor Barbara Volk's suggestion of a clock tower.</p><p>Working off an example of a 12-foot-square clock tower (nearly 30 feet tall) emailed to city staff, Luther Smith said the piece would have to be close to 6 feet wide to be “in scale with the intersection.” If the tower is made larger to accommodate foot traffic (about 20 feet wide), its cost may be a factor, he added.</p><p>“If council wants to go with that significant a structure, as designers, our feeling is this intersection is the wrong place,” Smith said. “An element of that sort needs to be in a major social space where it becomes an accent for all of Main Street.”</p><p>Committee member Peter Goldsmith asked if the larger clock tower would overshadow the fountain set to be constructed on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street. He added that their initial concept for a piece at that intersection was to bring people into town.</p><p>Smith agreed that whatever goes at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street “needs to catch your attention as you cross King.”</p><p>Goldsmith proposed the intersection could host “revolving pieces of public art” that can come to cities as traveling shows. </p><p>Smith added that once Main Street improvements are complete, they will have a total of eight spaces that could host revolving art, or “a lot of different options.” He added that they feel the improvements to Main Street the city is currently undertaking will encourage more redevelopment.</p><p>At Thursday's meeting, council member settled on plans for brick walls with sign elements on the southwest and northwest corners. Smith said the walls are set to be about 25-30 feet in length featuring a possibly backlit downtown “H” logo about three-and-a-half to four feet in diameter.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>